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Show us your cool, "old" drill press

Beerhippie

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 13, 2023
Messages
9,797
Location
Far NE Oregon
Wow, that's amazing! Nice job, didn't see that coming, LOL...

There's a ToolKraft near me for $50, looks like a twin to yours. FBMP.

Mike

$50, if it's complete and actually more or less works, would be about the right price. If you're interested, be aware it has bushings for the top and bottom of the quill. I'm leery of pushing this one too hard... like I've already done.

My "acid test":

53537814211_df524ab63a_b.jpg

1/2" hole in 1/2" 316L stainless. It does the job, but it's really pushing what this old press can do, new motor or not. It does work much better than it did with the old, 1/3 hp motor, but I still can't push it hard enough to pull nice curls off the bit. With the old motor, the bit would always "catch" at the bottom of the hole and I'd have to really nurse it gently to get it done. Not now. It just hogged right on through.
 
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mikeinri

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Joined
Nov 29, 2019
Messages
8,233
Location
MA
I was really thinking it could be a parts machine for you.

Can the bushings be upgraded to bearings (and would that help the performance/longevity)?

Mike
 

Beerhippie

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 13, 2023
Messages
9,797
Location
Far NE Oregon
I was really thinking it could be a parts machine for you.

Can the bushings be upgraded to bearings (and would that help the performance/longevity)?

Mike
Unfortunately, that isn't the same machine I have. The badge looks different, so no idea what brand it is.

At some point, I'll take the quill and spindle down to my local machinist and see if he can bore the quill out to accept needle bearings.

Here's the drill press going through the speeds:

https://flic.kr/p/2pyTsiw
Since I took that video, I found that there's another resistor that needed to be clipped to enable re-starting without going back to 0 rpm.

As you can hear, those bushings need some help. I also have a problem with the drive pulley being slightly off-center, causing the vibration.
 

Beerhippie

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 13, 2023
Messages
9,797
Location
Far NE Oregon
I was sick of looking at the big hole in the side of the press where the rack-and-pinon for the quill advance live. A 1 3/4" freeze plug seemed like the answer, and, after some fitting with a grinder and chamfering the hole in the case a bit, it fills the gap:

53540469305_326c8ea966_b.jpg

The majority of the vibration I was experiencing in the video was new since I started screwing around with the press yesterday. I traced it down to the drive pulley, which just didn't want to sit square on my hand-cut shaft. I guess a hand-held angle grinder against a spinning shaft really isn't as good as a lathe. I'll be. So I need a nut that will lock the sheave stack between the end of the shaft and the shoulder of the shaft. Hmm... it's a large, left-hand-thread metric nut. Ain't gonna have one of those around the shop... wait, I know where one is and I'm certain it'll fit!

53540048901_c289024562_b.jpg

That's the threaded pulley end of the flywheel! Fortunately, it didn't fall all the way to the bottom of the scrap dumpster, so was fairly easy to retrieve. I cut it off with a cut-off wheel, smoothed the sharp bits down, then put it face (factory surface) down and tightened it onto the sheave stack. Now that puppy is securely locked between two flat, concentric surfaces and the vibration is cut WAY down. I used a liberal application of blue LocTite 242 to help insure it stays tight when running the motor in reverse--which won't be all that often.
 

isb cornbinder

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Joined
Nov 3, 2010
Messages
7,073
Location
Pacific South West, BC, Canada
$50, if it's complete and actually more or less works, would be about the right price. If you're interested, be aware it has bushings for the top and bottom of the quill. I'm leery of pushing this one too hard... like I've already done.

My "acid test":

53537814211_df524ab63a_b.jpg

1/2" hole in 1/2" 316L stainless. It does the job, but it's really pushing what this old press can do, new motor or not. It does work much better than it did with the old, 1/3 hp motor, but I still can't push it hard enough to pull nice curls off the bit. With the old motor, the bit would always "catch" at the bottom of the hole and I'd have to really nurse it gently to get it done. Not now. It just hogged right on through.
A product that works really well is ANCHOR LUBE. Very well received by Topper Machine, Booth Machine and Keith Rucker.
 

aquinob

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 7, 2014
Messages
238
Location
Portsmouth, VA
A little late to the party but here are a few I've had my hands on:

60's vintage craftsman benchtop. I refurbed it and painted it a copper metallic with a clearcoat. I ended up selling it to a friend:

image_2024-02-19_200856596.png

Bringing home three full size presses in the back of a tundra. They all came from govt auction city of Va Beach.

image_2024-02-19_201218064.png

Oldest one of the lot was the delta 17"


image_2024-02-19_201825640.png

Current press is a Clausing VS:

image_2024-02-19_202021101.png
 

isb cornbinder

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Joined
Nov 3, 2010
Messages
7,073
Location
Pacific South West, BC, Canada

Beerhippie

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 13, 2023
Messages
9,797
Location
Far NE Oregon
This is the link. Read it and you will have all the information.
Thanks!

I ordered an 8 oz bottle to compare with what I'm using now--Evo Dyne, which is also a water-based product.

For stainless and aluminum, I used kerosene, mineral spirits or WD40 for years. I'm not sure these new, water-based product are really any better.
 
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crguy

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 24, 2016
Messages
2,654
Location
SW Washington
A little late to the party but here are a few I've had my hands on:

60's vintage craftsman benchtop. I refurbed it and painted it a copper metallic with a clearcoat. I ended up selling it to a friend:

image_2024-02-19_200856596.png

Bringing home three full size presses in the back of a tundra. They all came from govt auction city of Va Beach.

image_2024-02-19_201218064.png

Oldest one of the lot was the delta 17"


image_2024-02-19_201825640.png

Current press is a Clausing VS:

image_2024-02-19_202021101.png
We had a similar Clausing at work, and the VS worked well.
 

dutchgray

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 28, 2014
Messages
6,467
Location
Dorset. England.
Just picked up this old Denbigh SA.
20240403_193350.jpg
20240403_192157.jpg
20240403_192039.jpg
They were going to scrap it, after leaving it outside for a year and tipping it over, (which broke the cast iron belt guard, but I have the piece, squished the starter for the coolant pump that has been removed and the terminal box on the motor)
The spindle still spins and you can move the quill, so it will be ok with some work and probably bearings.
It's a 24" drill, 2" capacity in steel, 8 speeds 4 on belt, 4 on the backgear 600 to 35 rpm, 3 powerfeed rates, MT4 spindle, 6" dia column, 1.5 HP 3 phase. Approximately 1,200 lbs.
I got it for £250.
 

Beerhippie

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 13, 2023
Messages
9,797
Location
Far NE Oregon
Just picked up this old Denbigh SA.
20240403_193350.jpg
20240403_192157.jpg
20240403_192039.jpg
They were going to scrap it, after leaving it outside for a year and tipping it over, (which broke the cast iron belt guard, but I have the piece, squished the starter for the coolant pump that has been removed and the terminal box on the motor)
The spindle still spins and you can move the quill, so it will be ok with some work and probably bearings.
It's a 24" drill, 2" capacity in steel, 8 speeds 4 on belt, 4 on the backgear 600 to 35 rpm, 3 powerfeed rates, MT4 spindle, 6" dia column, 1.5 HP 3 phase. Approximately 1,200 lbs.
I got it for £250.
What a beast!
 

dutchgray

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Joined
Sep 28, 2014
Messages
6,467
Location
Dorset. England.
What a beast!
Yes it's definitely a heavy duty machine.
Technically it was old fashioned when they designed it in the 50's, pretty much every other maker was doing full gear head drilling machines in this size by then, but they actually replaced their big camel back range of drills with this machine. Denbigh were very conservative with their designs.

Denbigh lasted until 1970 so it's at least 54 years old.

I was surprised by how good the table is, very minimal drill marks. It was obviously looked after well for a long time.

It's definitely too good to let go to become new Chinese made cheap tat.
 
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crguy

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Joined
Jan 24, 2016
Messages
2,654
Location
SW Washington
Here's my latest acquisition. I paid more than I usually would, but this was too cool to pass. Very heavy for it's size at about #150. High speed is 6k rpm. The table has surface rust but no damage or arc of shame. It won't take long to clean up. 1000009167.jpg1000009169.jpg

1000009172.jpg1000009168.jpg1000009171.jpg
I had one of those several years ago. Didn't have any need for one that ran that fast so I sold it.
 

Outlawmws

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 9, 2011
Messages
39,234
Location
The Badlands
That's quite the DP contraption. I'd guess 100 lbs of it is that monster motor!

What is the chuck capaity? I think pretty small down to 0?
 

Craptain

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Joined
Apr 18, 2013
Messages
4,028
Location
Tampa Bay FL
That's quite the DP contraption. I'd guess 100 lbs of it is that monster motor!

What is the chuck capaity? I think pretty small down to 0?
If not 0 then it's pretty damn close. But I have an Albrecht that I'm thinking about installing. Perfect for a machine like that.
 

aggie113

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 22, 2015
Messages
473
Location
San Antonio, TX
Posting up some old Atlas vise adjustable jaws. I ended up with extras sourcing a set a few years back. No need for these. Anyone needs one let me know I can send them out for the cost of a USPS priority box postage (small if they'll fit). All slide free, otherwise in the condition as pictured.

jaws.jpg
 

tool_scrounge

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 20, 2010
Messages
4,190
Location
Southern California
Posting up some old Atlas vise adjustable jaws. I ended up with extras sourcing a set a few years back. No need for these. Anyone needs one let me know I can send them out for the cost of a USPS priority box postage (small if they'll fit). All slide free, otherwise in the condition as pictured.

jaws.jpg
I could use them. I’ll send a pm
 

Oregon rock crusher

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Joined
Jun 28, 2016
Messages
1,908
Location
West of Salem
Here is a bench top camelback I plucked from a local swap meet yesterday. It does have a pretty bad "arc of shame" but I'll do something to improve that. Also missing the gear guard but I'll fab something up to remedy that. Also missing the handles. On the plus side the drive is intact including the tight / loose shifter and most of the original finish is in good shape. Not a casting mark or badge on it anywhere so any help with ID is much appreciated. I've just started going through old catalogs and pics but no match yet. A few of the features that should help with ID. Ed.

*Counter weight in column for spindle return. The chain takes an indirect path to the spindle washer.
* Four hole spindle hub has tapered holes so the handles (missing) would have slight taper on ends.
*Flat table without center hole or slots.
*That bulge in the upper casting where it joins the column is distinctive.
 

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mikeinri

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Joined
Nov 29, 2019
Messages
8,233
Location
MA
I love how clean and simple that design looks! It's in great shape too. Sorry I'm no help with identifying it for you.

Mike
 

Prototype

Member
Joined
Nov 19, 2014
Messages
9
Location
Hesperia, CA
I have a South Bend, not sure what age it is.
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Could definitely use some work.
Would love to come across a multi speed pully at a garage sale for cheap seeing as eBay wants to charge 900 bucks for one.
I saw one of these drill presses on ebay the other day with the multi speed pully for around 350, i think that one sold in a matter of hours.
I would also like to find a belt cover for it.
 

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tombell572

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Joined
Oct 3, 2015
Messages
1,034
Location
Sea Cliff, NY & Portland, OR
That's a sweet machine. I'm pretty sure that these, or at least the earlier one did not have a belt cover. Pretty common for drill presses th4n to have a front pulley guard but exposed belt and motor pulley.

Tom B.
 

mikeinri

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 29, 2019
Messages
8,233
Location
MA
I have a South Bend, not sure what age it is.
20240525_112315.jpg
20240224_214140.jpg
Could definitely use some work.
Would love to come across a multi speed pully at a garage sale for cheap seeing as eBay wants to charge 900 bucks for one.
I saw one of these drill presses on ebay the other day with the multi speed pully for around 350, i think that one sold in a matter of hours.
I would also like to find a belt cover for it.

Here's a good place to start researching...


VM can be a very fun rabbit hole!

Mike
 

Beerhippie

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Joined
Oct 13, 2023
Messages
9,797
Location
Far NE Oregon
Another one followed me home today:

54014576230_167fa7f8db_b.jpg

54014576220_742794361b_b.jpg

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I probably over-paid at $50, but, hey, this one is complete and working as-found, with good paint, good motor and another Jacobs Hartford #33 chuck w/shiny key!

From VM, it appears to be an early '50s Model 600 Benchtop.

I'll probably just clean her up good and see if I can flip locally. Unless I decide I like it better than the Darra James.
 
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